Who Is Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Who Is Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Posted By Andrews Ersoff & Zantello LLC || 15-Sep-2016

While it can be difficult to think about the health risks we may face,
living with a disability is a reality for millions of Americans. According
to the Social Security Administration (SSA), it is estimated that more
than 25% of the current population will experience a disability by age
67. Those who have suffered a debilitating injury may qualify for benefits
through the SSA. Eligibility for Social Security benefits is not always
straight forward and to qualify, applicants must meet both financial and
medical requirements. Below our blog outlines the general eligibility
requirements for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI).

Financial Eligibility

One of the first steps an applicant must consider is whether they meet
the financial requirements for disability benefits. For applicants who
are still working or have other means of income, there is a limit to the
amount of money which they may earn each month. While this amount is subject
to change, in 2016, the monthly threshold was just over a thousand dollars.
Additionally, a person must have recently earned a specified amount of
taxable income in order to be considered insured under the SSDI program.
Those who do not meet the work-related requirements may still qualify
for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), provided that they do not make
over a certain amount of money.

Medical Requirements

Proving that your medical condition qualifies for disability benefits is
often the most difficult step for applicants to overcome. First, the SSA
will look to compare your condition to their list of qualifying medical
impairments, sometimes referred to as the blue book. In order to qualify,
a disability must match or equate to the specific requirements listed
in the blue book. When a person’s condition is not among those listed,
they may still be eligible for benefits through medical-vocational guidelines.
This method, also known as grid eligibility, is a common avenue for acquiring
Social Security disability benefits. Here, your case will be evaluated
in relation to how the severity of an injury affects your continued ability to work.

Additional factors which can affect your case include:

The applicant’s age

Total work experience

Any continued ability to work

Level of education

Transferable skills

It is also important to note that disability benefits do not cover temporary
injuries. In order to qualify, a disability must be expected to last for
at least one year. There may also be a waiting period for applicants,
meaning a disability must have existed for a certain period of time before
benefits will be paid.

Are you seeking SSDI benefits? Call (541) 902-3044

If you have suffered an injury, securing disability benefits can be critical
in supporting your monthly income. Whether you are just beginning with
the SSDI process, or you believe that your claim was wrongfully denied,
our Lincoln City Social Security disability benefits attorneys can help
you to navigate and overcome the obstacles ahead. At Andrews Ersoff &
Zantello LLC, our legal team has an in-depth knowledge of the laws and
regulations associated with Social Security and our firm has a proven
record helping clients to maximize the chances of a successful outcome
for their claim.